Final Discussion Questions

1.The Bennets are fortunate enough to receive another letter from Mr. Collins. How does this final letter help reinforce Mr. Collins as a stereotypical and shallow character?

2.Compare the first and second proposal scene between Darcy and Elizabeth. What do you notice?

3.The final few chapters close up loose ends and inform the reader about the fallout from Darcy and Lizzy’s marriage. Did any of this information surprise you?

Pride and Prejudice Essay Topics

Two of the following four prompts will appear on the unit assessment. You will then choose one of the prompts for your essay.

   A.     The eighteenth-century British novelist Laurence Sterne wrote, “No body, but he who has felt it, can conceive what a plaguing thing it is to have a man’s mind torn asunder by two projects of equal strength, both obstinately pulling in a contrary direction at the same time.” From a novel or play choose a character (not necessarily the protagonist) whose mind is pulled in conflicting directions by two compelling desires, ambitions, obligations, or influences. Then, in a well-organized essay, identify each of the two conflicting forces and explain how this conflict with one character illuminates the meaning of the work as a whole. You may use one of the novels or plays listed below or another novel or work of similar literary quality.

   B.     Some novels and plays seem to advocate changes in social or political attitudes or in traditions. Choose such a novel or play and note briefly the particular attitudes or traditions that the author apparently wishes to modify. Then analyze the techniques the author uses to influence the reader’s or audience’s views. Avoid plot summary.

   C.     In a literary work, a minor character, often known as a foil, possesses traits that emphasize, by contrast or comparison, the distinctive characteristics and qualities of the main character. For example, the ideas or behavior of a minor character might be used to highlight the weaknesses or strengths of the main character. Choose a novel or play in which a minor character serves as a foil for the main character. Then write an essay in which you analyze how the relation between the minor character and the major character illuminates the meaning of the work.

   D.    Although literary critics have tended to praise the unique in literary characterizations, many authors have employed the stereotyped character successfully. Select one work of acknowledged literary merit and in a well-written essay, show how the conventional or stereotyped character or characters function to achieve the author’s purpose.

Friday 9/6

Hello Comp Lit students,

I apologize for my absence this Friday morning, but fear not - I do have a two-step plan.

Step 1:

In your Quad groups, discuss the following three questions concerning chapters 12-16 of the novel, Pride and Prejudice (don't write anything down, just discuss for 5-10 minutes):

1) How does Austen use the character of Mr. Collins to make a social commentary?
2) What occurs when Wickham and Darcy run into each other? What does the narrator do to complicate this encounter for the reader?
3) According to Wickham, what happened between him and Darcy?

Step 2:

After discussing these three questions, here is your first scored group activity of the year:

Jane Austen begins Pride and Prejudice with the following lines:

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.

However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered as the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters.”

As previously discussed in class, Austen purposely uses an ironic narrative voice in these opening lines to make a social commentary on her society’s obsession with marriage and social class.

Using these opening lines as a guide, create your own ironic take on a current societal topic that you believe needs its own satirical analysis.

For example:

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a newly born infant must be in want of visual publicity on Instagram.

However little understanding this infant has of his or her newfound fame on publicized social media sites, not to mention however unsightly and unphotogenic this bald and chubby baby may be, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of his or her modest and humble parents that this infant can do nothing but rejoice in this responsible method of being introduced to society.”

Requirements:

·       Make sure that your opening statements begin with the line “It is a truth universally acknowledged…”

·       It must be at least 60 words in length and address a topic of relevance to our current times.

·       Share your group's final work with me via google docs (dachimore@djusd.net)